Consecutive-numbering machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

E. G. BATES.

GONSEGUTIV'E NUMBBRING MACHINE.

Patented oct. 18, 1892.v

BY W ATTOR EVS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 2. E. G. BATES. GONSEGUIIVE NUMBERINGMACHINE.

No. 484,389. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

By W A; TORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. G. BATES.

GONSEGUTIVE NUMBERING MACHINE.

No. 484,389.l Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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' larly UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDI/VIN G. BATES, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BATESMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OE NE\V YORK.

CONSECUTlVE-NUMBERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,389, dated October18, 1892. Application tiled April 25, 1890. Serial No. 349,452. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN G. BATES, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Consecutive-Numbering Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines `for priuting consecutive numbers,designed particuto be set up with type in a printers form and to advancethe number printed by it at each impression; and my object is generallyto increase the effectiveness, simplicity, and compactness of machinesof this general character.

More particularly my objects are to simplify and increase the efiiciencyof the mechanism employed to rotate the type-wheels, to effect thelocking of the type-wheels from movement for a short space of timeafterthe impression has been made, so that the impression will not beblurred, and to provide mechanism whereby the turning of theprinting-wheels is controlled, so that they will not be brought by theturning movement beyond their proper printing position.

In carrying out my invention I employ a hub upon which the type-wheelsare supported, said hub and type-wheels having a reciprocating motioncommunicated to them by the platen of the printing-press, and saidreciprocating motion being multiplied and converted into a turningmovement which effects the rotation of the numbering-wheels. Thenumbering-wheels are notched on their inner peripheries with tennotches, as is usual, each numbering-wheel except the last one of theseries having one notch deeper than its rel maining notches and of lessdepth than the deep notch of its adjacent lower printingwheel. Teeth orpawls are adapted to work in said notches, the said teeth or pawlsdecreasing in length in the same direction as do the deep notches on thetype-wheels-that is to say, the notches on the units-wheel and thelongest tooth or pawl operate together. These teeth or pawls arepreferably cut or formed from the same piece and are moved togetherwithin a recess in the hub, so that when the tooth opposite a wheel isin the deep notch thereof the tooth or pawl for the next higher wheelwill be in position to enter one of its notches and move it the space ofone printing character. This pawl is oscillated, preferably, through asegmental gear engaging with a rack that receives motion through asystem of levers operated by the downward movement of theprinting-wheels. The operation of the levers communicates to said rackan increased movement on its toothed face, so that considerable turningmovement is communicated to the segmental gear and consequently to theshaft controlling the pawls. 'lhe units type-wheel is provided on one ofits sides with ten pins or projections, one for each Y printingcharacter. Pivoted in position so that the movement of the platen willforce one end of it downward is alever upon which is mounted aprinting-period, which has a shouldered portion on it, which portionwhen it is forced downward is adapted to come in front of one of saidpins and thereby prevent the turning of the u nits type-wheel andconsequently of the other type-wheels, and therefore preventing all thewheels from rising until the pin becomes disengaged, thereby rejleasiugsaid units-wheel and consequently permitting it to turn and, with theother wheels, rise. This shouldered lever is so arranged that it ispressed by the platen of the printing-machine before the types are, andtherefore before the impression is made the typewheels are locked in theprinting position. Then the platen leaves the types, this lever is theiirst to rise, and as its shoulder is of some length the type-wheels areheld in the printing position until the platen has cleared them. At thispoint the pin in engagement with the shoulder of the lever becomesdisengaged, and thereupon said units-wheel is permitted to move and,withthe other wheels, rise. By this arrangement the blurring ot' theimpression is prevented.

The type-wheels and hub are secured to end pieces which rest upon apivoted bridge between a portion of which and the stationary portion ofthe frame a spring is arranged. When the platen forces the type-wheelsdownward, this bridge is also forced downward and the spring distended.IVhen the platen has left the type-wheels, this spring tends to re- IOOturn the bridge to its normal position, returning the type-wheels totheir highest position at the same time. Vhile the typewheels are beingbrought to their highest position, the lever before mentioned asconnected to the rack acts to turn the rack in the opposite directionand thereby bring the pawls into position to engage with another notch,the lever which is depressed by the platen having its fulcrum on astationary part of the machine and being connected with the moving partof the Inachine to elect this movement. This lever has a notch cut onit, with which a pivoted hook on a stationary part of the frame isadapted to be engaged when the lever is in its lowest position. Thispermits of the turning in one direction of any ofthe type-wheels, sothat the setting of the machine may be effected. I also employ two setsof detents, one set adapted to engage with notches on theprinting-wheels to prevent backward movement of the type-wheels andanother set engaging with other notches, but to prevent movement of thetype-wheels in the opposite direction. Ialso employa dropcipher oradjustable type-section to secure the general efliciency of my machine.

Other features of myinvention will appear in the subjoined description,and be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication,Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved consecutive-numberingmachine. Fig. 2 is abottom plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation, looking' from the right of Fig. 1, with the parts to theright of the line 3 3 removed. Fig. 4 is a similar view, looking` to theleft of Fig. 1, with the parts to the left of the plane of the line 4 4removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view, looking from the left of Fig. 1, withthe parts on the plane of the line 5 5 removed. Fig. 6 is a similar Viewof certain of the parts,taken looking from the right of Fig. 1, with theparts to the left of the plane taken on the line 6 6 removed. Fig. 7 isan elevation of the units locking-lever. Fig. 7n is a cross-section ofFig. 7 on the line a; 0c. Fig. 8 is a plan view looking down on therecess of the hub, the hub being in elevation and the type-wheels insection. Fig. 9 is a plan view looking at the'hub on the opposite sideto the recess, the parts' being in elevation. Fig. 10 is an elevation ofone of the type-wheels, the hub and certain other parts being insection,the View being taken on the line l0 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is asection taken on the plane of the line 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is aplan View of the oscillating' pawls and certain connections. Fig. 13 isan elevation of the units printingwheel, looking from the left ofFig. 1. Fig. 14 is a View of the otherside of the said unitswheel. Fig.15 vis an elevation of the tens- Wheel, taken from the right of Fig. 1.In Fig. 10 the other side ofthis tens-wheel is shown. Fig. 16 is anelevation of the hundreds-wheel, taken looking from the right of Fig. 1.Fig.

17 is an elevation of the opposite side of said hundreds-wheel. Fig. 18is an elevation of the thousands printing-wheel. The opposite side ofthe thousands-wheel is like Fig. 13, eX- cept it has no pins or deepnotch. Fig. 19 is a detail showing the relationship which exists betweencertain of the notches of the units and tens wheels and also between thehundredsandthousandswheels. Fig. 20isacrosssection on the line 2O 2O ofFig. 3, the typewheels being omitted. Fig. 21 is a side view of aportion of a type-wheel 3G, looking from the left of Fig. 8. Fig. 22 isa View showing in elevation the two cipher-sections and top Views of thehooks which engage therewith.

The operating mechanism is inclosed in a suitable box or case comprisingend plates 1 1, side plates 2 2, bottom plate 3, and partition 4. In oneof the said plates 1 and the partition 4 is pivoted at 5 5 a bridget.Resting upon this bridge are the side plates 7 8, which carry the hub 9,which supports the typewheels, which are located upon the hub betweensaid plates. This hub, as will be seen in Figs. 10 and 11, is recessedin such manner that at no part is the material thereof altogether cutaway. This method of forming the hub insures that there will be notendency to bind by the separation of the sides of the hub, as wouldoccur if the hub were cut all the way through. To the free end of thebridge 6 one end of the spring 10 is attached, the other end of thespring being connected to plate 4 or other fixed part of the frame. Theend 6 of the bridge bears against the bottom edge ot' plate 7. The sideplates 7 S have a reciprocating motion, the inward movement beingcommunicated to them by the platen striking the type-wheels and forcingthem down, and the upward movement being communicated by means of thebridge 6, which rests against said plates, said bridge being drawn toits highest position when the platen is removed by the spring 10.

The inward movement of the type-wheels and plates 7 S is a slightmovement. This movement is utilized to effect the oscillation of theoperating-pawls. In order to give the pawls the required extent ofoscillation, I employ mechanism for multiplying this movement, of whichthe followingis a description: A lever 11, fulcrumed at 12 on thepartition 4, is connected by the pin 13 with the plate 8, so that theinward motion of the said plate will be communicated to the lever. rothe free end of said lever is pivoted another lever 14, the other end ofwhich is pivoted to the segmental rack 15, the inner end of which ispivoted to the partition 4, as shown in Fig. 3. This rack engages with apinion or toothed segment 16, rigidlysecured to shaft 9, (shown in Fig.12,) which shaft carries arms 17, Fig. 3, and 3l, Fig. 4, rigidlysecured thereto, in which the oscillating pawls are hung. A springr 18,secured to the under side of thelever 11, has its free end resting onthe pin 19, projecting from the partition 4, so that the IOO IIO

tendency of said spring is to force the lever 11 outward. Inoperationthe platen forces the type-wheels downward with the said plate3, carrying the lever 11, thereby forcing the rack 15 downward andmoving the pinion 16, so as to carry the arms 17 and 31 around and thusoscillate the pawls. vNVhen the platen is removed, spring 18 acts inconjunction with the spring 10 to throw the lever upward and the rackand pinion are returned in the opposite direction, thus turning the arms17 and 31, with the pawls,` to their Iirst position. By this operationthe simple downward movement given to the type-Wheelsis converted into amultiplied movement for the pawls, and the type-wheels are rotated bythe pawls the required distance, the downward movement of thetype-wheels bringing the pawls into position to engage a newlnotch inthe type-wheels and the upward movement of the type-wheels forcing thepawls to revolve the type-wheel or type-wheels the space of one printingcharacter to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The units-wheel is provided with ten projections 20, one for eachprinting character, projecting atright angles from the side thereofnearest the plate 7. lPivoted on the face of the plate 7, opposite pins20, is a lever 21, which is shouldered at 22, as shown in Fig. 7, andprovided with a stop 23, projecting from said plate 7, and a spring 24,the tendency of which is to maintain said lever in the position shown insaid tigure. A section 25, carrying the period or dot, is mounted on theplate 7, so as to have an in-and-out movement in relation thereto,suitable provision being made to prevent said section from dropping out.Pins 26, projecting from the under side of said section, enter suitableholes in the top of said plate 7 and serve to guide said section. Aflange of said section' projects over the top of lever 21. In operationthe platen, striking the dot or period on section 25, whichis in anadvanced position with relation to the typewheels and remainder of themachine, forces said section inward, and thereby carries with itthelever 2l, the shoulder of which is brought opposite one of the pins 20on the units-wheel, thereby locking said wheel and consequentljv thewheels behind it from further movement in one direction. As the platenleavesv the numbering-machine the spring 24 will force the lever 21 andsection 25 outward after it and the type-wheels will be locked frommovement until the shoulder at 22,is altogether out of the way of thepins 2O of the units-wheel. By this arrangement the blurring of theimpression is avoided, as the type-Wheels are held stationary for acertain space of time before the impressionl is taken, while theimpression is being taken, and after the impresslion has been taken.

The oscillating pawl is provided with a tooth for each printing-wheel,the largest tooth 26 being inside the units-wheel, the next in depth 27being inside the tens-wheel, the next 23 inside the hundreds-wheel, andthe smallest tooth 29 being inside the thousandswheel. These teeth arepreferably formed from the same piece of metal and are provided withside arms 30 30, one of which is pivote-d in the arm 17, which isrigidly secured to and carried by the shaft 9, and the other of which ispivoted in an arm 31, also rigidly secured to the other end of saidshaft. The spring 33 is arranged, as shown, between the arm 31 and thepawls and the pawl-carrier, the tendency of which is to throw tho pawlsalways outward.

34 is the units-wheel, the opposite sides of which are shown in Figs. 13and 14. 35 is the tens-wheel, the opposite sides of which are shown inFigs. 10 and 15. 36 is the hundredswheel, the opposite sides of whichare shown in Figs. 16 and 17. 37 is the thousands-wheel. Each of thesewheels, except the thousandswheel, is provided with nine shallow notches3S and one deep notch 39. The thousandswheel has ten uniform notches 33.These notches are the ones with which the pawls engage for the purposeof eecting the rotation of the type-wheels in consecutive order.

1n addition to the notches 3S and 39, ten other notches 40 are providedon one side of each type-wheel. As shown in Fig. 19, the notches L10 and38 descend in opposite directions. These notches 40 are' provided in thetype-wheels for the purpose of locking them in the positions into whichthey are moved by the pawl, so that they will not be carried by themomentum which they attain farther than their proper positions. Toprevent abackward throw of the type-wheels, I provide for each wheel adetent L11, pivoted in the recesses in the hub 9, as shown at Fig. 11,each of said detents being provided with a spring 42, a recess beingformed in the under side of said detent to receive said spring, and thetendency of which spring is to throw the detent outward, as shown insaid figure. It will be seen that by providing one of these detents foreach wheel the movement of that wheel is permitted in the increasingdirection; but its movement in a backward direction is prevented.Pivoted in other recesses in the hub 9 are detents 43, each of whichcarries a tooth L14. A hair-spring45, arranged as shown in Figs. 10 and1l, tends to throw said detent inward, as shownn Fig. 11. One of thesedeten ts is provided between the units and tens wheels and anotherbetween the hundreds and thousands wheels. Their outward movement tolock the two wheels between which they are located is effected by thedownward movement of the pawls, which, coming in contact with the freeends of said detents, as shown in Fig. 10, forces them outward into thenotches 4:0 on the typewheels, two of which notches will be in theposition shown in Fig. 19, so that the tooth on the detent can enter thenotches on the two adjacent wheels and lock both wheels for the timefrom further forward movement. The opposing faces of the wheels inconnec- IOO IIO

tion with which the detents 43 operate are cut away, as shown at 46 inFigs. 15 and 17. It will be seen from this description that when theplaten of the machine is away from the type-wheels the detents 41 and 44are both in position,so that no movement of the typewheels can takeplace, both of said detents being in engagement with the notches 40.Therefore the type-wheels are held from any tendency to rotate while theplaten is away from them, the pins 2O and leverl 2l holding the wheelsfrom turning while the impression is being taken.

The loose cipher-sections 47 and 48, with which the tens and hundredswheels are provided, are L-shaped in cross-section, the said wheelsbeingcut away to about half their thickness to receive said sections, asshown at 49, Figs. 15 and 17. The horizontal arm of the L-shapedsections carries the printing characterand the vertical arm is recessedat one side at `50. A pin 53, Figs. 15 and 17, projecting from themortise in the type-wheels, enters this recess 50 and prevents theciphersection from dropping out altogether. The vertical arm of thecipher-section is also provided with the longitudinal recess 5l. On thehub 9, Fig. 11, are carried wipers 52, one for each type-section. Inoperation as the type-wheels bearing this loose section are turned therounded corner 53 of the dropsection will be brought in contact with thebeveled edge of the wiper and forced outward to the printing position.When it is desired to set the machine, however, to begin printing at 1,thetypewheels are first pressed to their extreme inward position, inwhich position they are locked by pressing the hook 54 into the notch 55in lever l1, Fig. 3. Then the type-wheels bearing the drop-sections areturned until they are forced outward by the wiper 52. They are thenturned until the drop-sections is beyond a wiper 52,whereupon thedrop-sections can be forced into their lowermost positions, and byturning back the type-Wheel a flange or projection of the wiper willenter the recess 51 and hold the same below the printing-surface or outof printing position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In aconsecutive-numberin g machine, the combination, with the reciprocatingprintingwheels, of a system of levers moved inward by the inwardmovement of the type-wheels and gearing between said levers andprinting-wheels for converting the inward movement of said levers intoav turning movement of the said wheels, substantially as set forth.

2; In a consecutive-numbering machine, the combination for rotating theprinting-wheels, of a lever pivoted on a part stationary relatively tothe printing-wheels, a connection between said level' and a part movablewith the printing-wheels, a pivoted rack,a connection between said rackand pivoted lever made at a distance from the pivot of the rack, andgearing between said rack and the operating-pawls, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination, with a series of printing-wheels notched on theirinner peripheries, of a hub, detents pivoted to said hub, a springacting to force said detents out of said notches, and operating-pawlsadapted to force said detents in the opposite direction, substantiallyas set forth.

4. The combination, in a consecutive-numbering machine, of a series ofoperating-pawls, two sets of detents, one set adapted to preventmovement of the printing-wheels in the increasing direction and theother set adapted to prevent movement in a backward direction, and saidprinting-wheels provided on their inner peripheries with a set ofnotches adapted to coact with the pawls and one set of detents andprovided on one face with notches for the other set of detents,substantially as set forth.

5. In a consecutive-numbering machine, the combination, with a series ofprinting-wheels and pawls therefor, of a lock for said wheels,comprisingapivotedshoulderedlever,aspring actingthereon and normallyholding the same above the periphery of the printing-wheels, andprojections on one of said wheels normally out of engagement with saidlever, but in position to be engaged thereby, whereby in printing thelocking-lever is first moved to lock the wheels, printing is theneffected, and the lock is raised by its spring to release theprintingwheels, substantially as described.

6. In aconsecutive-numberingmachine, the combination, with a series ofprinting-wheels and pawls therefor, of a locking device for said wheelsto lock said wheels from turning before, after, and while the impressionis being taken and comprising a detent and cooperatingpins or devicescarried by one of the wheels, anda projecting printing-section carriedby the framework and overlapping said detent, whereby when theprojecting printingsection is pressed in by a printing-platen the detentwill be moved, substantially as set forth.

7. In a consecutive-numbering machine, the combination, with a series ofprinting-wheels and pawls therefor, of a printing-section independentlymounted with respect to said wheels and movable in and out in a straightline, a pivoted shouldered lever adapted to be operated by the movementof said printing-section, and pins on one of said printingwheels,substantially as set forth.

S. In aconsecutive-numbering machine, the combination, with thetype-wheels and supporting-hub therefor and pawls for advancing thetype-wheels, of a pivoted bridge, plates between the bridge and hub, anda spring connected to the bridge for moving it in one direction,substantially as set forth.

9. Ina consecutive-numbering machine, the combination,with a box orcasing, of abridge lOO IOS

pivoted therein, printing-Wheels movable in This specification signedandwitnessed a direction to depress said bridge, means for this 22d day ofApril, 1890. advancing the wheels, said wheels having an axis supportedin suitable pieces resting ou EDWIN G. BATES. the bridge, and a springto return the bridge Witnesses: to its normal position, substantially asset D. H. DRISCOLL forth. W. PELZER.

